President Dr Arif Alvi said on Sunday that both the state and the society were equally responsible for taking care of people with special needs.
He was addressing an Iftar dinner with special children at Aiwan-e-Sadr that had been organised by Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan to commemorate the International Children’s Day. The president said the guidance provided by the teachings of the Holy Quran, Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions regarding the disabled persons were not merely for the state, but for the whole society.
The event marked the impressive cultural performances by the special children which turned the audience emotional and earned a huge applause. Almost 400 students from various schools participated in the event.
The president said the disability surveys in other countries revealed around 12 percent ratio of the disabled persons there, contrary to Pakistan where it stood at around 2 percent. He said this might be because the people in this society hesitated to record correct number of disabled persons in their families.
The president urged the state to ensure the true implementation of the jobs quota for the disabled persons.
He also shared the saddening news of the death of a child with thalassaemia who had addressed the first Iftar dinner.
The child had already lost his three brothers to the disease and had expressed his resolve to fight the disorder, which he unfortunately could not do.
He lauded the contributions of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the area of humanitarian cooperation and assistance given to several Pakistani social welfare institutions and charitable organizations since 2005.
In his remarks, the Azeri Ambassador Ali Alizada welcomed the president and the children on behalf of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva to the event.
He said the presence of the president and the first lady was not only a manifestation of the support given by the president to the foundation’s work but also the strong bilateral relations that existed between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
On behalf of Heydar Aliyev Foundation president Mehriban Aliyeva, he welcomed the children and distinguished participants and congratulated all on the occasion of International Children’s Day and the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“The interests and the rights of children must be safeguarded and protected. I am glad that many social indicators give a measure of the progress achieved by Pakistan regarding children’s rights in recent years and Mr president your presence here today is also a good example of Pakistan’s efforts and commitment for protection of the children.”
Ambassador Alizada further said the protection of children, improvement of their welfare, provision of their rights and freedoms and also coordination of state policy in this sphere is one of the main responsibilities of the Azerbaijani government too.
Despite this, NGOs are also actively involved in protection of children’s rights in Azerbaijan.
“The special role in the protection of children in Azerbaijan and beyond belongs also to Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan, especially to the president of the foundation, goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva,” he added.
Ambassador Alizada said just a few months later of its establishment by the initiative of first lady Aliyeva, Heydar Aliyev Foundation had started its work in Pakistan as well, implementing different healthcare, education, development, social and humanitarian projects in many provinces of Pakistan and foundation continued its projects.
“Azerbaijan and Pakistan have always enjoyed friendly and brotherly relations, which originate from our common moral values. These ties are on a steady upward trajectory,” he said.
The ambassador also extended warm gratitude and regards to President Dr Arif Alviand, Samina Alvi for their continued support and guidance.
